Demand for STEM graduates increases
Employers are showing significantly greater demand for candidates with STEM qualifications, according to a new study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The report highlights just how valuable employees with relevant qualifications and experience in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) are becoming, and may be of interest to Australian recruitment companies who are active in these fields.
On February 24, the ABS released new data that revealed the number of jobs open to STEM graduates in Australia was growing at a rate 1.5 times that of non-STEM positions.
"The number of people in jobs commonly held by workers with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) qualifications grew by 14 per cent between 2006 and 2011. This compares with only 9 per cent growth for other jobs," said ABS spokesperson Kerry O'Brien.
According to Mr O'Brien, workers with STEM qualifications account for approximately 18 per cent of the Australian workforce.
Interestingly, many STEM workers are not necessarily working in technical positions. In fact, Mr O'Brien noted that 75 per cent of Australians who have achieved university qualifications in STEM fields are now employed in highly skilled executive managerial and professional positions.
However, individuals with vocational level STEM qualifications are significantly less likely to be placed in such roles.
As demand for STEM employees increases, recruitment agencies specialising in these roles will need to take action to ensure they are filling available roles with the most qualified candidates.
This is an area where specialised recruitment software can help, by ensuring that candidate details are being stored accurately for future reference and search.
As client demand begins to outweigh the number of available candidates, it will be essential that your agency continues to deliver an excellent and timely service to all parties, to avoid sacrificing a competitive advantage.
The workflow automation capabilities of recruitment software may just prove invaluable during this process.